Not sure what to do about DD's homework (yr 3)

[suwoo]

Not very happy with DD's school at the moment and Ofsted are inspecting next week- so that should prove to be very interesting. That however is irrelevant.

Homework is to write a book review on the book they are currently reading.

DD is very bright and capable and did her homework this afternoon alone in her bedroom. She has written a one sentence scrawl.

Obviously, from now on I will sit with her whilst she does this kind of homework (it is normally a very simple worksheet).

Do I get her to re write it or send it in as it is? I have already had a word with her about her standards. I know its not my homework so think I should let her send it in as is, but she is capable of much better.

Send it in as it is. Her teacher than then mark what she has done.

This is what we are asked to do from DD's teacher, especially in sitations like yours. The teacher than has a chat with the child at school about whether it was their best attempt, etc.

These things often come best fromt he teacher IME.

ahhh interesting Hula.

See I would insist that it was redone. (This would be DS1 not DD).

Though I would write a not eto that effect to the teacher.

But your input is helpful. Maybe I will stop makign DS1 fini(as a teacher and TA) sh his work! (think it's good practice for him tho )

Send it in as it is. The teacher sould sort this out with your DD.

gaaah what happened to my post?

I meant that your input, Hula, as a teacher and TA, was helpful. I'm not a teacher or a TA at all, sadly.

The thing is, I'm not sure the teacher will discuss it with her. The standars appear very low at the moment. Last week they watched Wallace and Gromit.

I had exatcly the same issue today with dd1 also a year 3, i asked her to do it again

I am surprised that she thinks it acceptable-if the teacher is going to accept it then I would be very worried about standards and take it up with the school.
If she takes it in as it is and nothing is said then I would take the opportunity to write to Ofsted-you must be given a questionaire before they come.

I tend to set out what I expect for homework fairly explicitly, for a book review they have key questions to answer and if I don't think that a child has done their best, they get to do it with my help and support...at lunchtime.
It depends on the child, the homework is differentiated but from an able Y3 I would expect a lot more than a scrawled line or two.

I do like to feel that parents are backing me up by insisting on standards at home though, so from a parent's POV, I'd make her re-do it and tell the teacher what a pain it was.

Thanks everyone. Pisces, yes, you have hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure it will be discussed with DD but then perhaps I'll never know. We have had no feedback from school since last October as her teacher last year was sick on and mainly off and there were an assortment of supply teachers. I have filled in the questionnaire and will be making an appointment.

Is it wrong to compare DD's school with a friends sons school in another county? The work they have done already this term is unbelievabe. What has DD done? Watched fucking Wallace and Gromit.

Goblin, yes she is very able, top of the class if there is such a thing.

What shall I do then? Its too late in the morning to get her to re-do it...hmm maybe its not. She really did scrawl it too, her handwriting was atrocious when it is normally lovely and neat.

I really think she has lowered her standards as last year she was barely taught. She was being called upon to help her classmates when she had finished.

I'd not start the day with a scrap, send it in and see what the response is.
Then take up the fight with the teacher if you think they are getting away with rubbish. I'd also ask why W&G at the beginning of the term? Not like last week before Christmas.
Y3 should be comparable across the country if you are in a similar catchment area to your friend.

Not sure if it is a similar catchment area. We are in a suburban part of Manchester and they are in a nice village in Cheshire. Does that make a difference?

Seriously, DD has done fuck all since last September.

Won't be wording it like that to Ofsted though

Still sounds like the school is not doing the job properly.
Similar catchment goes on numbers of free school meals, clothing allowances, looked after children, EAL, SEN and the like.

You can actually do a lot of literacy work from W+G, so I wouldn't just go thinking they were watching a DVD for the sake of it.

Manchester, well Miles Platting and Didsbury are very different!

I think they were doing Literacy from W&G, something to do with 'settings'.

Goblin, we are in neither of those places but somewhere which maybe falls in the middle....Whitefield. Friends are in P o y n t o n.

What does it mean though? If they are posher than us, how does that relate to the work done?

It shouldn't matter where in the country you live, expectations should be the high for any child.
I've taught in some very deprived areas and had very able children in the class, and some wealthy areas and had the same. Likewise with the whole range of abilities.
Have you asked her why she's not bothered when she is capable of much more?

I've told her she should be bothered but actually I don't think I've asked her why she isn't
Will do so in the morning.
I am keen to speak to ofsted but worried about saying the wrong things and either sounding ill informed and misguided or like a pushy parent. My plan is to speak honestly and from the heart and see what happens.
Thanks.

I would probably have discussed whether it was the best she could do and ask whether she wanted to redo before submitting, but wouldn't make her redo it. Then she'd have to deal with the consequences herself. However, if you think the school doesn't follow up on homework and there aren't likely to be any consequences that does complicate things.

Clary - we had a recent meet and greet session at school with DD's new Y3 teacher, as a class group. The teacher was very much insistant that nw we are in Y3, the girls should be doing their own homework as much as possible. Yes, support them to an extent, but let them do it themselves. If they can't be bothered, don't force them. If they really don't understand, even after you have given them an explanation, let them leave it.

This way the teacher gets a true reflection of where there are any issues for them to look into or not.

The teacher will then speak to the child at school about it. This may eb to question the quality or standard of the work, or to give additional help where work has not be understood.

If parents do the work for the child, or sit y them and guide them throughout, or force them to redo work, or make it better, etc - then the teacher doesn't see the "real" work of the child.

And, as said before, many children will take comments from their child better than if it is mum or dad saying it.

How did you get on? I would agree with Goblinchild's posts-standards should be high where ever you live. I never had to argue with my DCs at that age, even my dyslexic DS knew that one scrawled sentence was going to mean trouble and being given it back to re do. If she handed it in as it was and nothing was said I would speak to the teacher about it. Writing a book review needs a bit of guidance in yr 3.

Hula that makes perfect sense.

Am going to try to stand back from homework guidance somewhat

After all, I let DD get on with hers - it's just that I know DS1 will not do his best